Wetlands for a sustainable Mediterranean region

Mediterranean and Wetlands presence at COP23

06 November 2017

The 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 23) takes place from 6 to 17 November in Bonn, Germany, and is to be presided over by the Government of Fiji.

‘’COP 23 is an excellent example of the cooperation and collaboration between nations that will truly meet the global climate change challenge. This meeting is incredibly important,’’ says Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary UNFCCC.

Thousands of government delegates and leaders from all sectors of society will participate in this annual meeting with one clear objective: making progress for a successful, inclusive and ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement, and accelerating the transformation to sustainable, resilient and climate-safe development. This includes negotiations on the implementation guidelines for transparent climate action under the Paris Agreement, as well as showcasing cooperative climate action, including on vulnerability and resilience, from around the globe. (Read more here).

Given their precious services that make them a crucial resource for climate mitigation and adaptation, wetlands will be present at COP23 through the following workshops and side events:

Nature-based solutions for water and adaptation to climate change

Organizers: French Water Partnership (FWP), International Office for Water (OIEau)

Date: 9th November 2017, 13:00-14:30 in the French Pavilion.

This session aims at fostering discussions on the role of nature-based solutions alongside conventional solutions and at identifying how to exert a leverage effect at all levels. Read more here.

Small island states and territories: coping with the impacts of climate change on water

Organizer: French Water Partnership (FWP)

Date: 09 Nov 2017, 14:30 – 15:30, French Pavilion

The event will present the current and projected situation in relation to water management in island territories and will discuss the adaptation measures needed to protect water resources and therefore safeguard water uses in a context of climate change. Read more here.

Launching ceremony on the signature of the international declaration on Nature-based Solutions, water and climate change

Organizers: French Water Partnership (FWP) and the Global Alliances for Water and Climate (GAfWC)

Date: 10 November 2017

This declaration highlights the role of Nature-based Solutions such as wetlands in meeting the adaptation and mitigation objectives of the Paris Agreement, as climate change is already affecting and will increasingly affect natural resources, in particular water resources and aquatic ecosystems. Download theinternational declaration here (English, French).

The need for local action to sustain peatlands globally

Organizer: Wetlands International, by Ms. Lea Appulo

Date: 10th Nov 2017, 16:45-18:15

Degrading peatlands contribute 5% of the total global anthropogenic emissions, but the use of wet peatlands (paludiculture) prevents degradation and provides an economic incentive for peatland rewetting. This puts a priority on incentivizing traditional non-drainage uses of peatlands by local communities. Read more here.

Blue Carbon

Organizer: Global Climate Action (GCA), by Ms. Barbara Black

Date: 11 November, 13:15-14:45

This side event showcases the advances made in implementing blue carbon as part of countries’ REDD+, NAMAs or other UNFCCC driven processes; it discusses opportunities and needs for including coastal management actions in NDCs and shows synergies with the implementation of the 2030 SD Agenda. Read more here.

Ecosystem-based adaptation in ocean and coastal zones

Organizer: Global Climate Action (GCA), by Ms. Barbara Black

Date: 11 November 2017, 15:00-16:30

This session shares advances in ecosystem-based adaptation in ocean and coastal areas across the world; concrete experiences on the use of integrated approaches and ecosystem features to enhance social-economic and ecological resilience; and perspectives for enhancing adaptation. Read more here.

Wetlands, peatlands and satellites

Organizer: Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS)

Date: 11th November 2017, 16:00–17:30, Room Tallinn

The side event will focus upon wetland/peatland frameworks, Ramsar priorities for peatlands and how the project “Peatland Restore” will provide valuable estimations to national decision makers on how much GHG can be mitigated under different scenarios. Read more here.

Engaging youth in climate action in the Mediterranean

Organizer: Union for the Mediterranean – UfM

Date: 14th November, 18:30-20:00, EU Pavillon

This side event will be an opportunity to highlight the important role played by young people in the Mediterranean area with regard to climate action. Read more here.

There is an urgent need to respond to, and help reverse, patterns of destruction of coastal natural habitats through valorizing ecosystem service benefits, enabling local communities to manage them sustainably, and improving livelihoods of the poor. Read more here.